“Dying is easy, young man, living is harder.” George Washington said to Alexander Hamilton in the Broadway musical show on Disney+ called Hamilton.
As children, living our innocent and blissful lives, we couldn’t wait to grow up because we thought it was all butterflies, rainbows, and unicorns. We observed the freedom that accompanied adulthood, but we failed to see the responsibilities and pressures that came with it. Pressures that stem from peers, education, career, finance, dating, marriage, living up to the standards and expectations of others, and let’s not forget the unlimited pressures of social media.
These pressures make life very challenging to live.
Lately, I have come across too many articles about suicide. It has been overwhelming! It breaks my heart every time I read about someone who made the decision to no longer participate in life for so many reasons that come with life’s burden and trauma. I mourn those souls because they gave up on their life’s purpose. I often wonder what their final thoughts were and whether at the last second they regretted their decision or still believed it was the right one. In no way am I judging them as I fully understand their thought process having considered suicide and attempting it myself (the story details are for another time). But what I can tell you right now is, many years ago as I endured Saddam Hussain’s regime I had decided that life was not worth living anymore but God had bigger plans for me and he made sure I didn’t disturb those plans. I am beyond grateful my life wasn’t cut short and my purpose left unfulfilled but I do understand how someone can reach that point. It is a dark and lonely world that most don’t comprehend and just because we avoid it, it doesn’t diminish its existence.
Life is not easy to live and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. It takes courage and perseverance to wake up every day to push through. No matter your situation and your pressures, your life is worth living and your purpose is waiting for you to finish. You are strong! No matter how you are choosing to tackle your challenges, you’ve got this! No matter how long your days seem, you’ve got this! Take inventory of the beautiful things in your life, even the smallest of things, take a deep breath, and smile. I am grateful and blessed for my every day, how about you?
